/africa-gm-genetically-modified-crops

Concern in Africa over genetically modified crops has been dismissed as fear of the unknown by an environmental group chaired by Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general.

“This report clearly indicates their full support for GM crops, and their intention to use their influence to open African doors for Monsanto’s and Syngenta’s patented GM crops,” said Teresa Anderson, international advocacy co-ordinator for the Gaia foundation, an advocate of food sovereignty that asserts the right of people to define their own food systems.

“Characterising the refusal of most African countries to commercialise GM crops … as ’fear of the unknown’ is patronising and shallow. Agra has wilfully chosen to insult farmers’ concerns in their aim to expand corporate agribusiness into Africa.”